Iver Johnson .22 Supershot Sealed Eight

by
posted on April 19, 2012
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
201241982545-w7795_tar-9919_f.jpg

For more than a century, Iver Johnson was a prolific manufacturer of revolvers that claimed a large share of the lower- to mid-priced market. From assembly lines in Massachusetts, New Jersey and Arkansas, the company produced scores of different models that ranged from crude, spur-trigger pocket pistols to full-size double-action revolvers whose fit, finish and features rivaled name-brand wheelguns. Shooter perception varied accordingly. Some considered “Owlheads” (so-called for the grip embellishment seen on many models) nothing more than cheap marginal revolvers, while others appreciated a relatively inexpensive alternative that was also solid and reliable.

Among Iver Johnson’s finest work was the Supershot Sealed Eight, a series of large-frame, top-break .22 rimfires produced in three production stages between 1932 and 1958. Its lines and blued finish mimicked costlier revolvers, and it had the heft and balance of a high-end match gun. The oval-shaped, single-piece “Hi-Hold” walnut stock added further to the gun’s appearance and handling characteristics. Sealed Eight stocks typically sported a diamond-shape checkering field over the backstrap, and attached to the frame via a single screw through the butt.

The Sealed Eight name came from a unique safety feature, in that all eight chambers were counterbored into the cylinder face so that the shooter was shielded in the event of a ruptured case head. Inner surfaces were correspondingly machined to allow the star extractor to fit flush as well. Variants with 2½- and 4-inch barrels were offered for short periods, but by far the most common Sealed Eights came equipped with a 6-inch barrel. With the longer barrel, the overall length was 10¾ inches and the weight was 24 ounces, with beefy dimensions that complemented the gun’s smooth operation and aided the shooter’s ability to hold it steady.

This lightly used Sealed Eight, whose serial number is simply “A 7”, is an early example from the line’s final production stage. At this point the barrel incorporated the top rib to assume a robust, pear-shaped configuration. The rear sight—which doubles as the top-break release—is in the Patridge style and is adjustable for both windage and elevation.

The gun has been fitted with an updated Flash Control cylinder (introduced in 1955), now unfluted and bearing an extended front rim to guard against sideways powder flare. Minor wear can be seen where the cylinder face rubbed the frame upon closing, but the exterior bluing, markings and grip finish are in such nice condition that this pistol retains 96 percent original condition with a value around $250—some five times greater than its original selling price.

Gun: Iver Johnson .22 Supershot Sealed Eight
Serial No.: A 7
Caliber: .22 Long Rifle
Condition: NRA Excellent
Manufactured: 1956 (circa)
Value: $250

Latest

Hopkins & Allen Gunmaker
Hopkins & Allen Gunmaker

Hopkins & Allen: The Armsmaking Giant That Didn't Survive

Founded in 1868 in the northeast U.S., Hopkins & Allen grew from a friendly business venture into a prolific maker of affordable guns for brand names such as Merwin & Hulbert and Forehand & Wadsworth.

Burris Optics Celebrates 50 Years Of Fullfield Riflescopes

Firearms and ammunition ballistics have changed greatly over the last half-century, but one of the biggest leaps in performance hit the scene five decades ago, when Burris Optics introduced its Fullfield line of riflesopes.

I Have This Old Gun: Heckler & Koch P7

In the mid-1970s, the German federal police sought a replacement for its existing World War II-era sidearms and put out stringent guidelines for what it wanted in a handgun. The result was the Heckler & Koch P7.

New For 2025: Smith & Wesson Shield X

Smith & Wesson's new Shield X micro-compact handgun combines elements from the company's M&P Shield Plus with some cues from its smaller Bodyguard 2.0 design.

Review: Tisas PX-5.7 FO

The idea that a faster-moving, lightweight projectile can do the same work as a heavier, slower-moving slug has been around for ages, and the math clearly supports it, even if some in the general public don’t.

NRA Awards Grand Scholarships To 2024 Y.E.S. Students

The Y.E.S. program—which launched in 1996—is held each summer in Washington, D.C., and brings together high-achieving high school students from across the country for a week of immersive learning focused on the U.S. Constitution, Bill of Rights and American government.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.